Reddit mentions of VIOFO A119 V2 (Latest 2019 Stock) + EVA Foam 1440p DashCam (no GPS) OCD Tronic Certified

> There are some on eBay that claim 1080p and have night vision for as little as $15, are they all garbage?

Garbage, pure garbage.

> If so what's the cheapest one that's at least ok?

So it depends what you want, IR dash cams are like this:

There are Uber/Taxi cams in the dash cam build:

• Transcend 32GB Drive Pro 520 ($186.61 USD)
  
  This has an IR camera rear, so it can record the interior at night. It also shows you the weaknesses of an IR camera, limited IR light spread/brightness, distortion of color due to removing a filter (to be able to see IR light) ect.
  
  Examples of IR spread: Warning Uber drivers with bad customers: Uber driver #1 or Uber driver #2
  
  
• The BlackVue DR650S-2CH IR ($399.99 USD) has a much nicer spread
  
  
• Thinkware F770 2CH IR ($279.99 USD) + (IR cam $99.99 USD) is pretty great too.
  
  There are normal dash cams:
  
  Dashcam + Micro SD card + Hardwire kit = cost. Different vendors offer different things included/excluded.
  
  Discount code: Receive $10 off with "top5blackboxmycar" when shopping for a dash cam over $99.99 at BlackboxMyCar.com
  
  *Note: I pulled a lot of links from BlackboxMyCar.com, but look around for the best price, I just wanted you to be aware of the discount code.
  
  
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  Excellent build quality, Excellent parking mode, Good/Fair video quality:
  
  1 ch systems: These don't have wifi/cellphone app:
  
  
• Thinkware F50 1-CH ($69.99 USD) - Fair video quality, Excellent build quality, Excellent parking mode. - Lacks a Wifi/cell phone app, but format free technology helps and reliability is top notch. - 1080P @ 30 FPS - ($69.99 USD) - 2nd vendor. ($90-110 USD) - 3rd vendor. - There is a coupon code for this one in the video description. Discount Code: blackboxmycarf50 to get $10 off from BlackboxMyCar.com
  
  
• BlackVue DR450-1CH ($119.99 USD) Excellent build quality, Excellent parking mode, lacks wifi, optional gps, lack of reviews. - 1080P @ 30 FPS Front
  
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  Lackluster parking mode, fair/poor build quality, Excellent video quality:
  
  
  
• Mobius ($80 USD) + USB Mini hardwire kit ($13 USD) + adhesive mount ($7.95 USD) + recommended but not required Super Capacitor ($7.95 USD) instead of lipo battery. - Good build quality, Good video quality, lackluster parking mode. - This dash cam comes from the RC/drone world, and it shows, it is almost endlessly modifiable, but you have to want to do all these things, and it is very hands on do it your self.
  
  
• A119 V2 ($80-100 USD) - V1 had minor flaws but is cheaper - V2 corrected some of those flaws and had firmware improvements. + Known problems of the A119 Excellent video quality day/good night/good shadow, good/fair build quality, lackluster parking mode. Discreet.
  
  
• A119S V2 ($100-120 USD) - This one has more potential but currently equal to the A119 due to lack of firmware improvements. - has parking mode now.
  
  True 4K:
  
  
• ThiEYE T5e 4K ($120 USD) - read the review on it, you give up a lot.
  
  So 4k has a lot of "marketing" around it, some are sold as 4k, but are not 4k dash cams. This one is one of the few actual 4k dash cams on the market, but you give up a lot, and you will require larger 128/256 GB MLC based High Endurance product Micro SD cards, that have error correction built in. They will eat up the cards quicker, and may not what you want in the end.
  
  -----------------
  
  Or you could pick these:
  
  Example of poor build quality:
  
  
• G1W-C(B) ($50-60 USD) - Good video quality, poor parking mode (lackluster), poor build quality. - Does strange things, doesn't keep date/time, LED light generally gets painted over, or sharpied, or taped over since it randomly turns on and gives the driver night blindness. - It is the best of the cheap/bad dash cams. I have one, I wouldn't purchase again.
  
  
• Xiaomi Yi ($45 USD) - Known Problems Excellent video quality Day/night/shadow - Ultra wide lens fish eyes. No parking mode. Heat tolerance problems. Build quality below average/poor.
  
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  There is a huge amount of buyers remorse in dash cams. What I can say is fully research the dash cams you want, and the dash cams you don't, so at least you understand your decisions. Picking Excellent build quality, Excellent parking mode, and good/fair video quality dash cams is a lot less hassle, above I listed only Excellent build quality, Excellent parking mode, good/Fair video quality dash cams, but there are Excellent video quality, Fair/poor build quality, lackluster parking mode dash cams out there that is worth knowing about. Anyways good luck in your decisions.
  
  *Edit: Prices change rapidly in the dash cam market, however, the copy pasta does not. I have seen prices rise rapidly, and fall just as fast, for no apparent reason, even as newer models have been released.
  
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  So If I was going to spend money, I would pick: The Transcend 32GB Drive pro 520 or if I wanted a better IR spread, BlackVue DR650S 2CH IR, or Thinkware F770 CH IR.
  
  If I was going for price, I would pick: the Xiaomi Yi Dash cam, it doesn't have IR, it should be taken out of the vehicle when not in use: Lipo batteries crack/leak/swell/ect and lens can spin around causing out of focus problem. There is no lack of problems with the Yi, heat problem, 165 ultra wide angle lens is too wide, causes fish eye, motion blur, and distorts distance/speed, build quality issues, not discreet. However if you take it out of the car when not in use, it is a runner. -
  
  You can apply: Paint, or apply shelf liner - do not cover the vents. This extra step may void warranty, and may reduce the lifespan of the dash camera it self - Black heats up quicker than silver.
  
  If I were to pick a dash cam for normal use: pointing towards the road: Thinkware F50 1CH or BlackVue DR4501 CH.
  
  If I wanted a dual camera: well I would have to list them, and I haven't yet, and I am at 8000+ characters out of 10,000 for this post.

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

$69.99

$80-100

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^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

I have an A119v2 that I got off Amazon for about $100. It has motion detection but I haven't used it.
https://www.amazon.ca/VIOFO-2K-FHD-Camera-Logger-Latest/dp/B01MG2QXJS?th=1

You can check my post history for vids (though if you go too far back you'll hit my old shitcamn).

https://www.amazon.com/VIOFO-A119-Latest-DashCam-Certified/dp/B01MG2QXJS

Viofo A119 v2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG2QXJS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Z75wCbK96WQHH
Invisicord mini-USB with fuse and standard harnass: http://invisicord.com/osc2/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=58

Then get a microSD card made for rewriting.

As for setting it all up, that part's on you and Google. But I can tell you from my own setup that these three things can get you going with a great forward-facing dashcam via the power on the rear view, no problem.

We just added one for stuff like this and I may get a second to film behind the car.

I have https://www.amazon.com/YI-Smart-Camera-Night-Vision/dp/B01C89GCHU/ because it was a low cost way to see if having one would be worth it for our vehical, and so far I am happy but I have to see it survive a hot summer.

https://www.amazon.com/VIOFO-A119-Latest-1440p-DashCam/dp/B01MG2QXJS is the one that is often recomended for its quality and heat tollerance.

I decided on the VIOFO A119 V2 which r/dashcam suggested as a good budget cam. Only forward but I think that's sufficient for my needs.

I would recommend one. It’s better to have one than not. I have one and it was handy once already but not for me. I saw an accident, was right behind it and besides giving my statement I left the memory card with the police office. Got it back later along with note saying it really helped an older gentleman as the older gentleman gave several ‘ I don’t know ‘ answers and was pretty much intimidated by the other driver. After that I put one in each of our cars not just my newest one like I had up until then. Dash cam type I use and hasn’t failed me yet, though this is the newer version. Dash Cam

Well I'm not sure why there's so much shit-talking on the A119 in here but I can vouch for both its reliability and recording quality. Right now you can get the A119 V2 for just under $90 on Amazon.

Like I said below, mine has survived from below 0 temperatures to above 100 no problem. It has great night and day recording too.

Here are some recordings I posted a while back

Day

Night


edit: links